SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UPDATING INFORMATION VIA A NETWORK

• US 20060265471A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.
• Inventors: Pitzel, Brad, Bobrovskiy, Stanizlav
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and a method for updating components in a client computer. The invention includes a method for upgrading software for various users, each of the users having diverse hardware and software configurations. The invention includes a method for automatically determining the hardware and software configuration of the client computer without user intervention. To begin the upgrade, the client computer reads a configuration file that identifies the components for downloading. Upon receipt of the configuration file, the client computer determines the hardware and software configuration of the client computer. The client computer automatically communicates with a component server via a network and requests one or more components for downloading to the client computer based upon the configuration file and the hardware and software conditions of the client computer.

Claims

1. A computing device implemented method of selecting software components for installation on a client computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining, from the client computing device, a request to upgrade a first software component capable of being processed by the client computing device;

obtaining configuration data regarding a software configuration of the client computing device, including information regarding at least one additional software component that is capable of a post-upgrade execution of said first software component, wherein the at least one additional software component has been determined to be missing from the client computing device;

identifying a at least one second software component for installation on the client computing device based at least in part upon said request and said configuration data, said second software components including, but not limited to, an upgrade for the first component and said at least one additional software component determined to be missing from the client computing device; and

transmitting said at least one second software component to the client computing device.